Zookeeper who was allegedly seen in a video kicking a dog was arrested for animal cruelty

A Florida zookeeper has been arrested on suspicion of brutally kicking a small dog multiple times in a disturbing video that went viral.

Miami-Dade Police have Richel Yumar-Gonzalez and charged him with animal cruelty – police say he is the man seen on video repeatedly kicking a small white dog named coconut.

In the video, the dog tries to run down a hallway – and the man in the clip kicks the puppy hard to stop him.

The dog scurries down the hallway, the man follows… then the dog turns around and the suspect delivers a brutal, crunching kick to the animal, sending it back with a loud cry. Eventually, the poor dog follows him down the hallway, and the video cuts out.

The video was captured by a doorbell camera…which later led to Yumar-Gonzalez's termination as a mobile zookeeper and later his arrest. Police said he made a full confession.

According to police, Yumar-Gonzalez admitted to hitting the dog… and claimed it became aggressive and bit him. Police said he told them he was having personal problems and allegedly didn't know why it reacted so viciously.